Thread: How close should my shave be?

You might must need some more practice with face prep, it eludes some of us when trying to master the Str8.
To much concern for angle and honing intracacies, and less on a well preped beard!!
Just give it time, you'll find your way I"m sure.

As always, tinkersd

Originally Posted by Lynn

If that's the blade I'm thinking it is, it's actually pretty close to a 3/8 and you need to be very careful with your angle when using it. It's a good shaver and it may take just a little practice. It is a pretty small and light and I think once you get the feel for it, you will like it.

Have fun.

Yup, that's the one. Good to know that it's more like a 3/8. I really like this razor.

I think just starting this post helped out. Lat night, my shave was the best yet. Two passes and a little touch-up and I was nearly at my DE level. The support here is awesome!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Just to put things in perspective, say about 120 years ago boys started an apprenticeship to learn the shaving skills taught by their fathers and they had months and months to learn all they needed to learn.

I think this is one of the most overlooked parts of the learning curve..

I think back, I started 30+ years ago at 22 and my beard was nothing like it is today, but I only imagine if I had started at 14-15 with a straight razor and got to actually learn the moves with shaving off that "Peach Fuzz" , just think how much easier that would be
There is no doubt in my mind that as more of those pesky gray hairs populate my beard it gets harder to shave

I've thought about that, too, how much easier it would have been to learn on peach fuzz. Wouldn't have needed higher angles over the chin, wouldn't have had the craggy Adam's apple yet, and by the time the barbs got thicker and the face more challenging, the necessary changes in technique would have been unconscious, reflexive.

The thing I still wonder is if--back when this was the only method--men enjoyed their shaves as much as we--who have chosen this method--do today.

Well, I can't add much to all the excellent expert advice you've already been given, but I will echo that the learning curve is a lot of the fun. And I agree with another poster that, once you've built up some muscle memory and confidence over enough shaves (and maybe consider getting a bigger razor?), that you can get absolutely the closest, buttery smooth shaves with a straight (at least I do). Only 2 and a half years in, I'm still learning, having fun with the occasional new (old) razor I can add to the rotation, not to mention all the AD's. And wait til you start honing! "Chasing that ultimate edge" is, to me, more fun than shaving. As Lynn says, "Have fun." Aaron

Just to put things in perspective, say about 120 years ago boys started an apprenticeship to learn the shaving skills taught by their fathers and they had months and months to learn all they needed to learn. These days we don't have someone at hand to teach, its either on your own or via a site like this and folks these days have no patience. They want it now.

Eventually everyone learned because it was the only way. These days we have choices and if you choose to use a straight the learning curve has not changed since the early days.

I got to agree, I am only on my 10th shave and this website is the font of eternal wisdom when it comes down to SR shaving. Today I cut myself up a bit and made my self very sore and red and the first thought that crossed my mind was "Lets ask Dad where im going wrong" and sadly Dad enjoys his Cartrige razor and couldnt help me. Whenfind myself going wrong with my razor I often think how great it would be to have a Grandfather and Father around to help and advise me but they are children of the times and I rely soley on Straight razor place for my info.

I hope to one day teach my sons how to shave with the straight razor and they can rely on me for information, advice and guidence in the same way I rely on you guys.

I thank the heavens for this place and for the help I recieve.